floor space for caging

I'm looking at increasing my production. Currently, I'm using medium lab cages (18" deep and 12" wide - 216 square inches). I'm looking at two different rack systems. One is 9.5" wide and 21.5" deep (about 11.75 square inches smaller than current). The advantage of this rack is that it has 50 tubs. I'm a little concerned that it is not enough floor space for a treo (sometimes I do quads - 3 females to 1 male). The other rack system only has 32 tubs but the floor space is 13" wide and 27" deep (351 square inches). The extra 18 tubs of the 50 tub rack would sure be nice. For comparison, I looked up a ten gallon fish tank and it is 10 inches by 20 inches (200 square inches), which is smaller than what I'm currently using and less than the 50 tub setup. In other words, the smaller tubs would still be about 4 1/2 square inches larger than a 10 gal fish tank.

Anyone keeping treos in space similar to 9 1/2 inches by 21 1/2 inches? How about ten gallon tanks? Do you have problems with over crowding in a ten gallon when litters are near weaned?

Hey Don,

I am actually doing an experiment right now with a couple quad groups using 12 x 17 inch spaces. The groups just dropped a litter each so I was going to wait to see how they handle them when they are weaning. Honestly though, my opinion is that the space is going to be too small. I've noticed my productive groups fire out about 30 babies on average a litter (for 3 females) and the second litters are usually dropped before the weanlings are ready to be removed. I have a larger bin right now with 41 rats in it (1.2 + pinks + weanlings).. And the space is on the brink of too small. They are in a 18 x 25 ish area. The thing with ASF is that they throw out SO many babies so frequently, they need bigger spaces for breeding purposes. I find my more productive groups can get stressed once the second litters drops in the big bins.

Here is the 12 x 17 inch enclosure with 5 asf and a litter of 7
http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/...psa2276223.jpg

I'll keep you updated on the smaller enclosures as these litters grow.

Cheers,
Chris.

Thanks Chris, since I didn't get any answers, I ordered a ARS 1050. The tubs are designed for mice, but have floor space that is slightly larger than a 10 gallon tank. I saw through a search that many people have asked about the size, but no one said that they used the 1050's. So, I guess I'll be first. What I've done is replace two of the bins with grow out tanks. I saw the unit in Daytona and thought it would be perfect for ASFs. I'm planning on putting 1.2 in each drawer and see how it goes. Here is a pic of what I ordered:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/q...ns/photo-3.jpg

sweet set up! ARS is hands down the best racking systems I have seen out there for both rodents and reptiles. Congrats on the purchase and best of luck to you!